Vimla Dang (December 26, 1926 Allahabad) has been a role model of feminists. She along with all her siblings joined the progressive movement at an early age, becoming activists of the Lahore Students Union and the Friends of the Soviet Union. While she was a college student in Lahore in early 1940s, she went to Chittagong in Bengal and raised money for famine relief. In 1952, she married Communist leader Satya Pal Dang – a Government College Lahore alumni – and has lived since in Chheharta, Amritsar. Vimla worked among women primarily and was the General Secretary of the Punjab lstri Sabha (Women’s Organisation) for many years.
In 1991 she was felicitated with the Padma Shri by the President of India for her social work. She was a correspondent for Blitz and New Age for a few years. She was elected to the Punjab Assembly in 1992.
Sat Pal Dang was the first President of erstwhile Municipal Committee Chheharta (1953–67) while Vimla was its President from 1968 till Chheharta was merged into Amritsar. Known for their hard work, honesty and simple living the Dangs set another example by voluntarily withdrawing from elective posts in the Communist Party of India and outside in 1997. Inspite of her age Vimla is still active in the Punjab Istri Sabha Relief Trust and the Aruna Asaf Ali Trust to help disadvantaged sections of Punjabi society.
Vimla Dang rests in peace. May 10, 2009